The Dispatch E-Edition

All current subscribers have full access to Digital D, which includes the E-Edition and
unlimited premium content on Dispatch.com, BuckeyeXtra.com, BlueJacketsXtra.com and
DispatchPolitics.com.
Subscribe
today!

Jimmie Johnson, his eyes squarely on a sixth NASCAR championship, set the tone for what could be
another dominating weekend in the desert by winning the pole at Phoenix International Raceway in
Avondale, Ariz.

He did it with a track record.

The five-time NASCAR champion turned a lap of 139.222 mph in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
yesterday to break the mark of 138.766 set by Kyle Busch last November.

“Track records are awesome,” Johnson said after yesterday’s qualifying session. “I don’t qualify
on pole all that often, so I take great pride in them, especially track records. Very cool to do,
and clearly a great time in the season and a great time in the Chase.”

Matt Kenseth, who trails Johnson by seven points in the standings, will start 14th on
Sunday.

He knows he has a lot of work ahead of him this weekend in making his car better, and then
trying to catch Johnson on Sunday.

“This track in the spring was extremely hard to pass at, probably one of the toughest tracks
that we go to, and I don’t know if it will be any better or not this time,” Kenseth said. “Pit
strategy was all basically the same the last time we were here. So, unless you have cautions fall
funny, I don’t know if you’ll be able to do it on pit strategy. I think you’re going to have to
have a good balance, good speed, you have to be able to pass, have to have good pit stops, all
these things.”

Denny Hamlin qualified second with a lap at 139.023, but he went out much later than teammate
Kenseth.

Joey Logano qualified third, and Kyle Busch was fourth as both of Kenseth’s teammates
out-qualified the title contender.

Coughlin qualifies 2nd

Mike Edwards ran the quarter-mile in 6.545 seconds at 211.66 mph in a Chevy Camaro to lead pro
stock qualifying yesterday after the first day in the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in
Pomona, Calif.

Series leader Jeg Coughlin Jr., seeking his fifth pro stock title, held on to second place in
the qualifying order with a 6.552 at 210.77 in a Dodge Avenger.

Shawn Langdon moved into position to wrap up his first top fuel championship as early as today.
He opened a 104-point lead over defending champ Antron Brown and will take the title if he holds a
lead of 100 points or more at the end of qualifying today.

Langdon gained a point when he powered his dragster to a 3.750 run at 327.03. Brown was second
with a 3.775 at 322.42.

John Force, the 64-year-old star who wrapped up his 16th funny car title in the last event in
Las Vegas, also topped qualifying with a 4.015 at 318.62 in a Ford Mustang.

Youngest truck winner

Erik Jones became the youngest winner in Truck Series history with his first career NASCAR
national victory, and Matt Crafton finished fifth to make the season championship a formality next
week.

Crafton needs only to start in the season finale at Homestead, Fla., to seal his first series
title after eliminating all other contenders last night.

Jones won at 17 years, 4 months to break the record set this year by Chase Elliott, who was five
months older when he won in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Jones got his win in his fifth start for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He got a shot to drive the
Toyota when he caught Busch’s eye by beating him in the Snowball Derby in December.